TWO coal seam gas (CSG) exploration licences extending from Lake Illawarra to Helensburgh have expired, prompting calls by environmentalists not to allow their renewal.
The licences contain CSG wells approved for development in the Illawarra and take in parts of the drinking water catchment, including Sydney Catchment Authority Special Areas north west of Bulli.
Stop CSG Illawarra spokesperson Jess Moore says the expiry provides the NSW Government the chance to withdraw the licences.
This is an opportunity to stop, do the research and make decisions about CSG based on facts,”Ms Moore said.
“There is now more than enough evidence that CSG mining brings risks.
“Licences should never have been issued in the drinking water catchment. Licences should never have been issued before the facts on CSG were in.
“The Illawarra project risks the drinking water of over 4.3 million people in NSW.”
“Licences should never have been issued in the drinking water catchment. Licences should never have been issued before the facts on CSG were in.
“The Illawarra project risks the drinking water of over 4.3 million people in NSW.”
The licenses are Petroleum Exploration 444 in the north and Petroleum Exploration 442 in the South – titles granted by the NSW Government that both define an area for oil or gas exploration and require that exploration activity takes place. The licences expired in April and February 2012 respectively.
Ms Moore has called on Premier Barry O’Farrell to stand by his pre-election public pledge of ensuring if elected his government would not allow mining in any water catchment area, and would ensure that leases and exploration permits ”reflect that common sense”.
“The Government should put a freeze on the CSG industry pending the results of a Royal Commission; that is, a science-first approach to an industry that demonstrably poses risks,”Ms Moore said.
Bulli & Clifton Times 
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